IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEATS. 531 



thought his scope would be extended and his opportunities im- 

 proved for carr5nng on the work which he had hitherto performed 

 privately and entirely at his own expense in a most generous and 

 unselfish manner, giving away to anyone he considered trust- 

 worthy the results of a vast amount of thought and also of expense. 

 This appointment, it was considered, might be some little acknow- 

 ledgment and recognition of his efforts. 



He prepared a scheme of work, which included the breeding 

 and crossing of wheats at Lambrigg, his headquarters, and supplying 

 the different experiment farms with seeds of entirely unfixed and 

 partially fixed crossbreds for the purpose of making at the farms 

 varieties which are suitable to the districts of which they (the 

 farms) are severally representative. 



A number of experiments, having an important bearing on 

 the wheat-growing industry, he proposed should be taken in hand 

 as his work proceeded. 



During his second season he had a good opportunity of 

 observing the results of the planting of his wheats at Wagga farm. 

 He wrote, " Beyond all doubt it is not sufficient (as I had hoped 

 rather than expected it might be the case) to produce and fix 

 wheats at Lambrigg alone in order to supply other parts of the 

 colony with new varieties for their climates and soils." 



He then adopted the system of carrying out the process of 

 fixing his young varieties at different farms. 



He met, unfortunately, many unexpected difficulties, which 

 not only impeded his operations but affected his health to a con- 

 siderable extent. These numerous " flies in the ointment," how- 

 ever, were neutralised considerably by many pleasing encourage- 

 ments ; and a great deal of enthusiasm in his work was forth- 

 coming to encourage his efforts. 



Much discontent was expressed from time to time at the slow 

 progress of his experiments by those in authority, who really had 

 no conception of the necessity for the utmost care and patience 

 necessary, or of the injury to the Department which might arise 

 from incautiously distributing new wheats, the proper values of which 

 had not been proved. He found it necessary to publish in the 

 Agricultural Gazette the following note : — 



" Some misapprehension seems to exist in regard to the rapidity with 

 which new varieties can be made by means of cross-breeding. It is true that 

 the work can sometimes be done quickly. In a few cases, indeed, I have 

 found as little as four years to suffice for becoming possessed of a fixed type, 

 while in others (and they are the great majority) much longer is required. 

 Also after a fixed type has been secured much more remains to be done before 

 the new variety can be distributed. It has first of all to pass an examination 

 at the mill, and this is an ordeal which leads to the rejection of the greater 

 number of those which are subjected to it, and few are the new varieties 

 which are found to satisfy the requirements which a high standard of milling 

 excellence demands of all the qualities — (1) strength, (2) colour, (3) yield of 

 flour ; as well as (4) of gluten content ; and (5) ease of milling. Moreover, 

 after all these tests have been satisfied and the economic value of the new 

 variety has been established, three years (at least) is needed to enable a 

 sufficient stock of seed to be grown for a fairly wide distribution of it." 



